The
excavations led in Aprhodisias by Turkish archaeologist
Kenan Erim have revealed marvels. The name of the
ancient city has the same root as “aphrodisiac”
a word that derives from the name of Aphrodite,
the Goddess of Beauty and Love who was also the
symbol of life and fertility in all its aspects.
This city was dedicated to her. Founded in the 5C
BC, the capital of Caria was very florishing during
the Roman period because
it had obtained, from Mark Antony, the status of
free city as well as the inviolability of the sanctuary.
Aphrodisias was a religious, artitistic and literary
center, and its school of sculpture was extremely
reputed (sculptures were carved from Carian marble,
a white,grayish blue local marble). The licentious
and very popular cult of Aphrodite survived Christianity
during a long time. This is why the Byzantines
changed the name Aphrodisias into “Stavropolis”
(the city of the Cross) and the temple into a church.
Among the most significant vestiges there are:
The Propylon orTetrapylon is a monumental
gateway built in the 2C AD under the reign of Hadrian,
at an intersection where a sacred way led to the
Temple of Aphrodite.
The Stadium built in the 1C AD, is the best
preserved in Anatolia. It is 262m/240yards long
and 59m/54yards wide. 22 rows of seats have a capacity
of 30,000 spectators.
The Temple of Aphrodite from the late Hellenistic
period, was originally designed as an Ionic Temple
with 40 columns. It was modified and converted into
a basilica by the Byzantines in the 5C AD. The goddess
Aphrodite altogether was the compassionate mother
of all life who brought fertility and relief from
sickness, and the goddess of love and war.
The Bishop’s Residence was an ancient Roman
governor’house later used by the Byzantine bishop.
The Odeon is a semi-circular building with
12 tiered rows of seats decorated with lion’s feet.
It had a capacity of 1,700 people. The orchestra
was ornemented with mosaics and statues which can
be seen in the museum. The Odeon was linked to the
Agora by a porticoed area adorned with statues of
important inhabitants of the city.
The Baths of Hadrian (beginning of the 2C
AD) were an imposing center composed of five large
galeries, a palestra ( a columnated courtyard) and
many rooms intended for the different stages of
the Roman bath (caldarium, tepidarium, sudatorium...)
The Portico of Tiberius has its central
area occupied by a huge pool. The portico with its
Ionic colonnade, may have been a gymnasium.
The theatre with a seating capacity of 10,000
people, was built in the late Hellenistic period
around 100BC, and was modified at the end of the
2C AD.
The Tetrastoon from where people had access
to the theatre, was a meeting and a market place
with small shops.
The theatre Baths with the Imperial Hall.
The Sebasteion (1C AD) which means “august and
magestic”, was a courtyard with two parallel three-
storied porticoes on both sides, where the emperor
was worshipped.
The Museum contains an impressive collection
of sculptures
The Stadium
The Tetrapylon
The Temple of Aphrodite
The Theatre
PAMUKKALE
Located near Denizli, Pamukkale which means
“ Cotton Castle”, is a unique naturel site
that has always been reputed for the healing powers
of its calcite-laden hot springs (35 C/102 F). The
waters leaving their limestone deposits have created
an unreal landscape, made up mineral forests, petrified
waterfalls and a series of terraced basins and fascinating
stalactite formations.
The
ancient city of Hierapolis was founded in the 2C
BC by Pergamum king Eumenes II who wanted to compete
with Laodicea. It was named after Hiera who was
the wife of Telephos, the legendary foundater of
Pergamum. In 133
BC, the city was bequeathed to the Romans.
Destroyed by a terrible earthquake in 17 AD, the
city was rebuilt, and then became a very prosperous
thermal resort until the 3C . Like in Laodicea,
a large population of Jewish people who lived here,
contributed to the expansion of the Christian
belief. During the Byzantine
period it was the diocesan center.
Pamukkale has been declared by the UNESCO
to be one of the Eminent Cultural Heritages of
the World.
The Necropolis is
the largest ancient cemetery in Anatolia with approximatively
1,200 graves of different shapes: tombs, sarcophagi,
tumuli... There are many Christian tombs because
the faithful wished to be burried near the place
where the Apostle Philip was martyred.
The Martyrium, built
in octogonal shape in the 5C on the spot where he
is said to have been stoned to death.
The Basilica (
5C) was originally a 2C-3C transformed Roman bath.
The Triple Archwas
the northern gateway and was flanked by two circular
towers.
The Colonnated Street is
1,190m/1,088yards long.
The Public Roman Baths
are huge buildings were the local museum has been
opened.
The Sacred Pool contains
many fragments of columns lying in the water. It
is not to be missedbecause
today it is located in the Pamukkale Motel.
An unusual swim in the thermal water through the
remains of the columns (or a glimpse) is recommended.
The theatre with
a seating capacity of 20,000 people, is a 2C well
preserved building where reliefs depicted Emperor
Septimus Severus and Dionysos.
